Higher Power WiFi cards?

[hellosailor]

I just confirmed (after really pulling nails with the Intel internal tech support) that the Intel a/b/g/n WiFi card is only a 13dBm = 25mW card, as compared to other WiFi radios that run 100-600mW.

In fact there's a new Engenius mini-PCI card rated 600mW now, so I'm wondering, what are the odds I would blow some circuitry (from the higher power drain) if I installed a higher power WiFi card? Or, has anyone done this already, and how much power are you drawing?

I could live with a lot less than 600mW but 25mW...sounds like it will be a problem in the airports. Or a blessing, if no one can reach me to hack me.<G>

And does anyone know the correct name for the antenna cable connectors in the T61P? I saw an illustration in the manual indicating that all three are used with the a/b/g/n card, but I have no idea what their proper name is. (I'd like to go plug-n-play on that.)

[rkawakami]

If the T61p uses the same antenna connectors as I've seen with all other MiniPCI cards, then it's called U.FL.

[alacrityathome]

Sailor,

The 4965 seems fairly effective despite the 25mw. The 25mw is probably good for battery life as well.

One caution....I had read in other threads that the 4965 card has to be Lenovo....to be recognized by the T61p......but I don't know if that was ever confirmed.

My recommendation is to take advantage of the usb or pcmcia slot and get a power card/usb dongle to satisfy your power craving. One caution on that, though, is to remember that connection to the web takes both transmit power and increased receiver sensitivity (with just transmit power, you can contact the AP but without receiver sensitivity, you won't be able to receive the AP response.)

[Crunch]

I'm trying to figure the whole wireless-N thing out as well. See this thread: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=55607

I read in a recent thread that I won't be able to get the 4965AGN card for my T60p? Why is that anyway? My theory is that they want to get you to buy a T61/p!?

Anyway, is there a workaround that would make it work? Would it accept the Thinkpad a/b/g/n card then? And will I be able to use my WWAN antenna by replacing it with either of the above, and is there something that would make that a bad idea in and of itself?

Thanks everyone!!

[hellosailor]

Crunch, I'd guess the T60 only has provision for 2 internal antennas, and the Intel a/b/g/n card is designed to use three all at once. Rash guess--don't know.

alacrity-
Thanks, I'm aware of that. Many cards can be operated at lower power levels, if the software is any good. And WiFi is supposed to be smart enough to negotiate and drop to use minimum power in order to avoid interference. I'm also thinking an external card would be the simplest solution, but looking at both ways to go. I can often scrounge power, either AC or DC, but have to settle with whatever WiFi signal there is. Odds are that if I'm connecting to a hub--it is way more than 25mW anyway. And in some cases (with special ad hoc networks) I might be connecting via a parabolic antenna as well--pushing it from both ends. 25mW just sandbags the whole business. (I'm still in shock that Intel generated that number!)

rk-
Thanks, the illustrations look more like a phone battery connector, but AFAIK all the cards are using U.FL., which translates into "University of Florida" not an antenna standard to me.<G>

[Dale H. Cook]

I'd guess the T60 only has provision for 2 internal antennas

The T60 has provision for three, but if not equipped with an -n card, or if equipped with a WWAN card, has only two installed. See the shop manual.